Another look at favourite plants for the Christmas season
CHRISTMAS is indeed a favourite time of the year for beautiful plants and flowers to be given as gifts to family and friends. Floral arrangements will definitely brighten up the celebration. We often look to Western traditions when it comes to the selection of seasonal favourites.
This week I will look at some of the most favoured plants and flowers to mark this wonderful time of the year. Poinsettia In terms of seasonal favourites, poinsettia definitely ranks at the top. Its minute flowers may not be memorable, but the colourful bracts are indeed most impressive. Pots of poinsettias are lovely gifts for the season and also as decorative items around the house.
Today we have a whole range of colours – pink, white, yellow and other hybrids being produced by botanists in labs. Traditionally, of course, red poinsettia are the favourites for Christmas.
If you are planting them yourself, just be aware that long periods of darkness are required to achieve the colourful bracts. Too much sunshine and the bracts will just remain green with chlorophyll for photosynthesis. Try to give the plants 14 hours of darkness for a period of up to three weeks to achieve deeper coloured bracts.
Poinsettia are often used in Christmas wreaths so if you have successful plants, you might want to include them in a fresh arrangement instead of sticking to the artificial store-bought versions. Amaryllis These brilliant showy flowers available in different patterns and colours would also add much vibrancy to Christmas arrangements. Red velvet would be a classic choice.
If you buy your own already flowering plants, do note that the plant will bloom happily when the bulbs are crowded together. So avoid planting just one amaryllis bulb in a large pot. This plant does not respond much to fertilisers, so just ensure that it is watered sufficiently. Christmas cactus Although a cactus does not seem like the right choice for Christmas, this variety blooms during Southern Hemisphere summers in Australia and New Zealand just around Christmas time. They make beautiful and long-lasting gifts. Practically the whole plant will be covered with pinkish or reddish blooms. The cactus can stand on its own to brighten up various spots around the house.
Just remember that although it is a summer plant, our hot tropical weather is too much for it, so keep the plant indoors. Rosemary You have probably heard of planting rosemary as a delicious herb for your garden kitchen, but have you ever considered using rosemary as a Christmas tree? This aromatic plant is not only decorative, but can also keep pests away.
A thriving plant just needs to be pruned to achieve that ideal Christmas tree look. With a little imagination, you can decorate it beautifully as a mini Christmas tree for the dinner table. As a bonus you can also use it for your Christmas dinner’s roast lamb!
Just spray the plant lightly and keep it in a bright position. Water once a week or when the planting medium is dry. Tulips This is of course the famous Dutch national flower. They are very expensive and will not last here unless kept in cool conditions indoors. They are very colourful and will add a luxurious feel to any celebration. Red flag bush Like poinsettia, this African shrub known botanically as Mussaenda erythrophylla produces colourful bracts and also has small, less significant, starshaped flowers. You can often see them grown by landscapers along the roadside, including near the Simpang Tiga traffic junction in Kuching.
This plant will add interesting splashes of colour to your festive decorations too and can be a replacement for poinsettia. Christmas rose The Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) has white flowers and green leathery foliage. This is of course a winter flower as its name indicates. It is a favourite for cut flowers overseas.
Hopefully you have a few ideas of how to decorate your own home for the Christmas season.
Do send me an email if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy gardening.